Christmas Doin’s

by | Dec 16, 2011 | Uncategorized

If you’re the praying kind, here are 3 things I’d appreciate your prayers about:

1. The youth Christmas party I’m speaking at tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon at the Nagoya-Higashi church. It’ll be mostly non-Christian kids and a very Jesus-centric message. Pray for my interpreter too.

2. The Christmas outreach event here at the Nagoya church on Sunday. I’ll be doing some music.

3. My trip to Canada Dec. 23 to Jan. 4. It’s mostly vacation, but live also been asked to speak at my parents’ church, Brown’s Flat Wesleyan on Jan. 1. If you’re near the Beulah Camp grounds, feel free to stop by and hear about what’s been going on in Japan.

Thanks, and happy holidays, everyone.

Colossians 2:6-15

by | Dec 12, 2011 | Thoughts, Uncategorized

“For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.” (Colossians 2:9 NLT)

「キリストにこそ、満ちみちているいっさいの神の徳が、かたちをとって宿っており」 (コロサイ人への手紙 2:9 JA1955)

As we approach Christmas, this verse comes as a great reminder of what the real gift of Christmas is. God’s greatest gift was Himself. That’s who Jesus is.

これは、クリスマスの本当の意味ですね。神様のプレゼントは自分でした。それは、イエス様です。感謝。

Colossians 1:24-2:5

by | Dec 12, 2011 | Thoughts, Uncategorized

“To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” (Colossians 1:29 NIV)

Here Paul talks about his ministry. It’s something that requires of him a lot of hard work and personal sacrifice. But he’s not alone, and it’s not just with his own strength he labors. It’s Christ’s energy working in and through him.

I want this in my life, too. It can be easy to fall into the habit of treating ministry like it’s “just a job.” Like if I just put in the time and effort, that’s enough, forgetting that God may have a different definition of success, and that that success isn’t possible to achieve on my own.

I can’t create an effective, life-changing ministry on my own. I need God. Yes, I can and should work hard for the cause of Christ. But not in my own strength alone. Like Paul, I need to “strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”